Ramblings of a waterlogged Seattle area gardener and wannabe urban farmer

Buttercup the Cockerel

by myrubberboots on September 27, 2009

My chicks have grown up.

Until yesterday, I thought they were both pullets. It all started a couple days ago when I thought Hazel (our hen) was sick since she wouldn’t leave the nesting box. I went into the coop to check on her only to find she was laying on eggs; we assumed she was confused since she wasn’t laying on fertilized eggs.

Hazel wasn’t confused I was.

Yesterday morning, I watched as Hazel and Buttercup did a little dance under my hydrangea and it was then I realized we had a cockerel.

Buttercup the Cockerel

Well, nothing appears to have changed with the flock dynamic. I must say this is the only part of having chickens I don’t like – taking fertilized eggs away from a hen that wants to hatch them. Hazel now freaks out daily when we take away the eggs she’s trying to hatch. Before, she just left them for us to pick up. She can’t have chicks right now anyway since it’s almost winter. I may let her have a chick this spring.

Brownie the Pullet (I think)

Until then, we continue being horrible people.

Don’t worry. Buttercup is part of the family, he’s not going anywhere. I just wish this was as exciting as a pullet laying her first egg.

I looked it up and the definition of “flock” is a group of birds. Four chickens is a group of birds – if you’re not careful I’ll let Hazel hatch more than one chick in the spring and then we’ll really have a “flock.” xo

I’ll post a picture once we get the trim painted. I need to start looking for our “third” paint color or accent color for the inside of our windows. I’m thinking a dark orange/red/brown color that matches the door stain.